On May 17, 2014, the Portage Park District dedicated its newest facility, the Red Fox Boat Access on the Upper Cuyahoga Scenic River in Shalersville. The project was funded by a grant from the Division of Watercraft from boat license fees, and includes an improved access path, 8 car parking lot, signage and an information board. It is located near the Red Fox Water Treatment Plant on land that Portage County leased to the Park District.
The site now provides safe public access to the river and serves as a takeout point for paddlers who put in upstream. The next public upstream access is the Village of Mantua’s Buchert Park, about 6 river miles away, a 2-hour paddle. There is no other public access downstream before reaching the restricted waters of Lake Rockwell; unless paddlers have authorized access to private property, they should not continue downstream of Red Fox.
The Upper Cuyahoga was designated a State Scenic River in 1974 due to its excellent water quality and natural habitats. One can see a large diversity of birds and wildlife and fishing is excellent. Paddlers should be aware that there is no agency or organization that is responsible for monitoring or maintaining the river corridor, and downed trees and bridges could create hazardous conditions that can change from day to day depending on water levels and storm events. Paddlers should learn about boater safety, check water conditions and use caution.
Information on boater safety can be found at the Ohio Division of Watercraft website, The US Geological Survey stream gauge at Hiram Rapids feeds data to a website that shows water height, temperature and flow in real time. The site can be found by web searching “USGS Hiram Rapids”. For more information about the Portage Park District, contact the office at 330-297-7728 or visit us online.
Photo: Partners celebrate the dedication of the new Red Fox Boat Access on the Upper Cuyahoga. From the left: Betsy Tomasko Garner, park commissioner; Elaine and Harold Marsh, Friends of the Crooked River; Allan Orashan, Park Commissioner; Sabrina Christian-Bennett, Portage County Commissioner; Christine Craycroft, Park District Director; Rich Lowry, Division of Watercraft Regional Manager.